Compare towns
Sutton vs Exeter vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Sutton | Exeter | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,239Lowest |
16,151Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Sutton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Auburn and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,656±$614Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,652Lowest 15% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kearsarge Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.